Passé composé : Avoir ou être ????? In French, the choice between using "avoir" (to have) or "être" (to be) as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé depends on the verb you are conjugating and whether the verb is considered "intransitive" or "transitive." Here's a general guideline: Avoir (to have) is generally used as the auxiliary verb with most transitive verbs, which are verbs that take a direct object. A direct object is a noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb. Examples of transitive verbs are "manger" (to eat), "voir" (to see), "lire" (to read), "écrire" (to write), etc. Example: J'ai mangé une pomme. (I ate an apple.) Être (to be) is used as the auxiliary verb with a specific group of verbs that are often related to motion, change of state, or being. These verbs are called "verbs of motion" or "verbs of being" and are often intransitive, meaning they do not take a direct object. Some examples of these verbs include "aller" (to go), "venir" (to come), "naître" (to be born), "mourir" (to die), "partir" (to leave), "arriver" (to arrive), etc. Example: Je suis allé au cinéma. (I went to the cinema.) It's important to note that there are some verbs that can use both "avoir" and "être" as their auxiliary verb, depending on the context and meaning. For example, "monter" (to go up) and "descendre" (to go down) can use either "avoir" or "être" based on whether they are transitive or intransitive: Elle a monté les escaliers. (She went up the stairs.) Elle est montée dans sa chambre. (She went up to her room.) Remember that verbs that use "être" as the auxiliary verb will agree in gender and number with the subject in the passé composé. Verbs that use "avoir" do not have this agreement.